-1: 52
Deep in Tetra Line's hidden research facilities.
Mustang adjusted his glasses, carefully checking the readings of his very important patient. "Oui... it seems you are doing well, Deputy Chief- Non. Commander Andersen."
Andersen chuckled and then winced, clutching his side as he laid on a recovery bed. "You say that... but it's certainly more painful having your kidneys sewn back in than having metal plates jabbed into you."
Mustang chuckled. "I suppose... Though I would argue that facial surgery is the more painful."
"...I suppose that's possible. More nerves or something, right?"
"Oui! And you should be happy, monsieur! The pain means that you are healing properly!"
"Yeah." Andersen groaned and then sipped on a specially blended nutrient shake to help his recovery. "Ugh. Splendamin is already bad, but having even more medicine on top... terrible."
"But worth it for your girls, non? That is something we both know, oui? To do anything for our girls." Mustang smiled.
"...Yeah. That and my son." Andersen gently raised his bed to a sitting position with a nearby panel and said, "I saw his speech. And what the media are saying about him."
"Ah, oui. Our commandant... The hero and the villain. No in-between." Mustang nodded. "Of course, considering he rarely returns to the Ark, it is a non-issue."
"For now." Andersen frowned. "But people like Doban exist."
Mustang wrinkled his nose. "This is true..."
Andersen sighed and leaned back. "...What's the progress like, Hanson?"
Mustang paused. "...Ah. You know."
"I had suspicions. But since you've been spending so much time with me, I found out. You were involved with my good friend Oswald's daughter after all... though I only found out after the fact. I was in a coma at the time and all, you know?"
Hanson chuckled and folded his glasses away, tucking them in his pocket. "Ah. Yes... Pretty did talk about you a lot. Well, the Legendary Commander, at least."
"Good things, I suppose?"
"Mm... you could say that. She was more a fan of the goddesses than you. Though she did say you were... how shall we say, quite brave?"
"Heh. Brave? More like reckless." Andersen chuckled. "If I didn't have Lilith and the others... I'd probably be dead more times than I could count."
"Perhaps so. But you WERE a mercenary before you were a commander, no?"
"Yeah, but it was just odd jobs. Survived by the skin of my teeth." Andersen chuckled. "Though, maybe it runs in the family. My son's running around like a maniac and fighting on the battlefield instead of just shouting orders like I did. Probably got worse since no one was around to tell him to stop being dumb like Lilith did for me."
Hanson chuckled. "Well. From my experience, he's a hard man to say no to. At least, when he's set his mind on something. It's quite something, you know? To have a Commander willing to take even disabled mass-produced Nikke and give them a home where they won't be prosecuted."
"...He did that, huh? Let me guess. He's somehow turned the Outpost into a paradise for Nikke and humans."
Mustang smiled. "So far, just Nikke. But perhaps soon, humans too. Not many civilians can use the elevator, you see?"
"Right, right. Forgot about that." Andersen chuckled.
The two men sat in silence for a while, Andersen quietly assessing his body's situation while Hanson examined the readouts from Andersen's biometrics.
"So, Doc? What's the damage?"
Hanson hummed. "It's quite incredible... You really are legendary. The artificial kidneys are already adapting to your body and functioning. And your liver is half regrown from the starting frame."
"Must be why my stomach hurts like a bitch." Andersen rubbed his abs and said, "And the guts? Those just emptied out, or what?"
"Those will take a bit longer. But it seems like your body's naturally regrowing them as well." Hanson frowned. "It's strange though... If your body could do this, why weren't you treated sooner?"
"Well, this IS revolutionary technology my son handed over." Andersen chuckled. "Also... Hm. It's a bit odd to say, but I was starting to feel better already since the time I met my son in person."
Hanson smiled. "Must be parental instincts. Your body found a reason to live, huh?"
"Guess so." Andersen smiled back.
Hanson put his glasses back on and chuckled. "Well, monsieur~ I'll leave you be. Rest, heal, and soon... the legendary commander will take to the field once more! Now that's eeeeeeeeeeeeentertainment!"
Andersen chuckled. "Eeeentertainment!"
"Oui, monsieur! Such levity, such joy!" Mustang spun around and winked. "Hold tight to it, and you will be out of here in not time! Au revoir~!"
With those last words, Mustang left, leaving Andersen alone in the room.
The deputy chief sighed and leaned against his bed, staring at the television.
News, old headlines. Conspiracy theories...
But overall...
"Hm. Surprising."
Was it because his son was that exceptional? Or because his speech had inspired more than even he planned?
Despite the split opinions on whether he was a hero or a villain, overall the narrative seemed to be shifting towards the positive regarding Nikke.
"At this rate... The Goddess Squad might actually be received with a warm welcome after all. Well." Andersen chuckled. "I'll be leading them, so it'll have to be one."
The thought of it...
Meeting Snow White again. Scarlet, Dorothy... Rapunzel too.
"...If Red Hood was still here-"
*bzzt*
"Hm?" Andersen blinked and then checked on his phone. "Who could be texting me right now?"
He had blocked everyone except for three people: Burningum, his son, and Enikk.
But someone got through?
Andersen unlocked his phone. And when he saw the caller ID, he froze.
[Red Hood]
Hey Boss! Rumors of my death were GREATLY exaggerated. You still alive? Heard from Lil Boss that you were. Where are you anyway?
"...Is this a joke?"
Red Hood was dead.
Andersen had confirmed it personally. And Ingrid had too.
The reason was because Rapi-
Wait.
Andersen paused to think about it.
Then he remembered what his son had mentioned the last time they talked. And he thought about how much time had passed...
Andersen hesitated. But then he typed out a response.
> Okay, 'Red Hood.' Tell me something only the real Red Hood would know.
> You sure about that, Boss? Because I know a LOT of dirty secrets of yours. Like the nude sketches you made of Lilith~
Andersen's heart skipped a beat at the revelation of something exactly ONE person knew about. Then a surge of mortification and anger welled up inside him.
> You bastard! I told you to NEVER mention that again!
> Hey, you told me to say something only I would know, Boss. Also, Lil Boss is pretty crazy. I thought YOU were a perv, but MAN does he go AT it.
Andersen closed his eyes and let out a slow breath.
> ...Could you not talk about my son's sex life?
> Fine, fine. But just letting you know, I'm alive. Body's not quite what it used to be yet. I'm in a temporary thing since Rapi has my old body. But making it work.
> Rapi has your- No, forget it. Have you talked with the others yet?
> Not yet. Lil Boss said it's probably best to wait for you, and I agree. If I just show up now, they'll think I'm a fake. But if we BOTH show up, they'll think it's a secret plot. Might get shot at, but worth, right?
Andersen chuckled. "...Definitely Red Hood."
> Deal. I'll let you know when I'm back up to speed. Then we'll get the goddesses together for one last ride.
> Pft. You must really be getting old, Boss! One last ride? I think we have decades to make up for, don't we? We're not stopping anytime soon. Not until we take out the Queen, right?
"...Yeah." Andersen smiled.
> That's right.
> Right! So, you do whatever you're doing. Don't be a stranger though! Bye!
Andersen let out a slow breath and leaned back into his bed.
"Just a little longer."
His body hurt. It felt like his insides were ripped apart again, just like when the Heretic-Class Rapture first tore it to shreds.
But the pain meant it was healing properly. His body was registering sensation.
So...
"Soon. Then I'll show that kid of mine what's what."
Andersen chuckled. Then he immediately regretted it.
"Owowow... Dammit. Lilith was right. I really should stop laughing when I'm injured..."